Automatic pencil

ABSTRACT

A special receptacle like a fountain pen, or mechanical pencil to hold chalk, so that it may not soil the hands and may be carried and used sanitarily. A chalk-holding cylinder, of an elastic material, is made to slide freely within an outer cylinder, and at the bottom of the chalk-holding chamber of the cylinder, a pushout spring is provided.

United States Patent Inventors Miyoshi Mori Aichi-ken; Miyako llyoudou, Shlzouka-ken, both of, Japan Appl. No. 865,684 Filed Oct. 13, 1969 Patented Sept. 7, 1971 Assignees Miyoshi Mori;

Masauoshi Suganuma Japan Priority Oct. 19, 1968 Japan 43/91,429

AUTOMATIC PENCIL 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 401/81 Int. Cl 843k 21/16 Field of Search 401/88-94, 81, 65-68 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles AttorneyGeorge B. Oujevolk ABSTRACT: A special receptacle like a fountain pen, or mechanical pencil to hold chalk, so that it may not soil the hands and may be carried and used sanitarily. A chalk-holding cylinder, of an elastic material, is made to slide freely within an outer cylinder, and at the bottom of the chalk-holding chamber of the cylinder, a pushout spring is provided.

PAIENIEB SEP 7 IHYI 3,503 693 sum 1 or 2 M06111 NTOR;

PATENTED an Yum SHEEI 2 [IF 2 INVEMTORS AUTOMATIC PENCIL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automatic chalk pencil which has a special receptacle where chalk is kept, so as to be sent out automatically, and, at the same time, can be carried about in the pocket, using an attached cap.

THE PRIOR ART In the prior art, chalk was held by the naked hands, and as carried about in the pocket without any holder device. When chald was used and became short, it was thrown away, not being usable, or else, a compensatory holder was used to make it easier to use; however, when the half-worn chalk was filled or taken out, people used their naked hands, grabbing it directly, thus soiling their hands or clothes. While, when the engineers and supervisors of civil engineering or architecture carried chalk at their working places, they carried it about in their pockets without any covering, thus soiling their clothes or easily breaking long piece of chalk. These are defects to be avoided by the present invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide a convenient chalk pencil for the general use, and also for the use of the engineers, schoolteachers and others using chalk frequently, enabling them, by using a cap on the device, to carry chalk in their clothes pockets and to urge the chalk out automatically, without touching it directly with their hands while in use, like other writing instruments.

Another object of this invention is to provide a receptacle for chalk to urge out a necessary quantity of chalk automatically.

The characteristic of this invention is that the hands touch chalk directly only when chalk is first loaded, and once loaded, the required quantity of chalk is sent out automatically until the chalk is used up.

Other objects and advantages may be understood more clearly by the following description and the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a view of the chalk pencil seen in the direction of the cap;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the chalk pencil out along the line II-II of FIG. 1, showing chalk enclosed therein;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal view of the outer cylinder of the chalk pencil;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view of the chalk-holding cylinder of the chalk pencil;

FIG. 5 is the left side end view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a right side end view of the hook portion at'the interior end of the extension of the chalk-holding cylinder;

FIG. 7 shows the state in which handling member is inserted into the pressed-spring chamber of the outer cylinder so that it may engage with one end of the chalk-holding cylinder.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the fastening pin; and

FIG. 9 is a left side longitudinal view of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The chalk pencil 1 consists, as shown in FIG. 2, of three main parts; a chalk-holding cylinder 5 to hold chalk 2 therein, an outer cylinder 19 to enclose the chalk-holding cylinder, and the cap applied to the device, The chalk-holding cylinder 5 has a chalk-holding chamber 6 which is cylindrical in shape, with one end open to receive chalk and the other closed, and the open end constitutes the jaws 11 of a collect-chuck. On the outward circumference of the chuck a prominent tapered portion is formed, and there, slits are cut lengthwise at proper intervals. At the bottom portion (i.e., the left-hand side of FIG. 2) of the chalk-holding chamber 6, a pushout spring 7 is enclosed to push out chalk. And, at the interior of the bottom portion, there is an extension 8 which is inwardly stepped and smaller in diameter than the bottom portion, and is integral with the bottom portion; at the further end of the said extension 8 a catch 10, with a slit 23 cut lengthwise protrudes by means of the stepped part 25 from the outer surface of the extension. Then the chalk-holding cylinder 5 is inserted into the chalk-holding cylinder chamber 15 of the outer cylinder 19, accordingly, the extension 8 of the chalk-holding cylinder into the pressed-spring chamber 18 through an aperture 16 of a diaphragm 17 in said outer cylinder, and a pressed-spring 20 is mounted on the extension 8 in the pressed-spring chamber 18. A push member 9 is provided on said catch 10 of the extension. The push member 9 has an outer diameter a little smaller that that of the inner diameter of the pressed-spring chamber 18 of the outer cylinder 19, and an inner diameter a little larger than that of the outer one of the extension 8 so that the said push member may be held tight frictionally, also push member 9 has stepped holes 24 and 24a having inner diameters of a size to enclose and engage with the hook part 10 of the extension 8. The pressed-spring 20 is pressed and caught between the sidewall 21 of the diaphragm 17 and the border surface 22 of the handle member 9 with some intensity by elastic force, and at the ordinary state spring 20 pulls the bottom of the chalkholding cylinder toward the diaphragm 17. When, as shown in FIG. 7, the push member 9 is applied on the extension part, pressing the pressed-spring 20 forward and elastically bending the hook catch 10 (which can be bent because of the slit cut in the extension part), the catch 10 passes through the hole 24 to the successive stepped hole 24a and spreads out; in this state, of course, the repulsive force of the pressed-spring 20 is exerted, but the push member 9 never get off by dint of the stepped portion 25. However, to make securing sure, a fastening pin 26 provided with a wedgelike pin 27 is inserted into the slit 23 of the extension 8 through hole 24a, and said push member 9 is perfectly secured, the head 28 of the fastening pin forming a part of the push member. The chalk-holdingchamber 6 can hold conical chalk as well as a parallel edge piece; further, a clip 29 is attached to the cap 30.

The invention is used as follows: When loading a piece of conical chalk,- the cap 30 is first removed; then the push member 9 including the fastening pin is pushed forward, overcoming the resistance of the pressed-spring 20, consequently, the chalk-holding cylinder 5 is pushed out in the direction A and the jaws 11 of the collect-chuck are spread wider due to the elasticity exerted by the slits 13, until their diameter is restored up to the inner diameter of the chalk-holding chamber 6. Accordingly, worn out chalk is released of the pressure at the jaws ll of the chuck, and pushed out by the pushout spring 7 at the bottom part of the chalk-holding chamber 6. (Thus a new piece of chalk is easily loaded.) To determine the length of the exposed portion of the piece of chalk properly, the intensity of pressure squeezing chalk at the jaws ll of the collect-chuck is adjusted by operating the push member, making the length of chalk optional, and once determined, the push member 9 including fastening pin 26 is released; then the stressed state of the pressed-spring 20 is restored to its ordinary state, and the chalk-holding cylinder 5 moves to the direction B automatically, and the tapered portion of the jaws ll of the collect-chuck engages with the tapered portion 14 of the outer cylinder 19, as shown in FIG. 2, the jaws 11 of the collect-chuck closing, and pressing and holding the piece of conical chalk tight. After that the cap 30 is attached onto the handle portion 31 of the outer cylinder 19, and that part is held by hand when this chalk pencil is used. When, while in use, the exposed portion of chalk is worn out, the push member is pushed forward again as mentioned, and the jaws ll of the collect-chuck release squeezing the chalk, and the length corresponding to that pushed forward by the push memberis pushed out by the pushout spring 7, thus the operation of thehandling member may be stopped when the desired length is e'xposedfBy repeating this process, chalk can be used until it becomes too short to be used and is thrown out, without the necessity of touching the chalk with the hands.

We claim:

I. An automatic chalk pencil comprising in combination a chalk-holding cylinder (5); an outer cylinder (19) enclosing said chalk-holding cylinder; a chalk-holding collect-chuck mechanism (11) at the front end of the said chalk-holding cylinder and said outer cylinder; pushout spring means (7) to push chalk outwardly in the chalking cylinder, and a push member (9) at the other end of the outer cylinder to squeeze or release the collect-chuck mechanism.

2. An automatic pencil as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chalk-holding cylinder includes a chalk-holding chamber to receive chalk, said chamber being defined by a parallel-walled hollow cylinder connected, at the bottom end of the chalkholding chamber, with one end of a stepped extension (8) whose diameter is different from that of said chalk-holding cylinder; said front end of said chalk-holding chamber having thereat a tapered collect-chuck mechanism, a pushout spring to push out the chalk in the rear part of said chalk-holding chamber, and, a stepped catch with a slit cut to make said catch bendable at the rear end of said extension.

3. In an automatic pencil as claimed in claim 2 having a chalk-holding cylinder chamber to enclose said chalk-holding cylinder and a spring chamber enclosing the extension of the said chalk-holding cylinder, in addition thereto, both said chambers being separated by a diaphragm which has an aperture (16) to allow movement of the extension through said aperture, and, a tapered portion at the front end of the said chalk-holding chamber.

4. An automatic pencil as claimed in claim 3 so constructed that chalk is received in the chalk-holding cylinder chamber of said outer chamber, and said extension part is received in said spring chamber having a pressed-spring disposed in said extension part in said chamber, and the rear end of said extension part is provided with a push member and a fastening pin, said chalk-holding cylinder being always drawn toward said diaphragm in the chalk-holding cylinder chamber of said outer cylinder, and is so constructed that the collect-chuck jaws at the tip of the said chalk-holding cylinder are subjected to the pressure of the tapered portion at the inside end of the said outer cylinder.

5. An automatic pencil as claimed in claim 4, said push member being so constructed that its outer diameter is a little smaller than the inner diameter of the said spring chamber and its inner diameter is such that it is possible for the push member to be hooked onto the outer surface of the said extension frictionally, said push member having a stepped hole whose diameter is sufficiently large to pass said stepped catch of said extension, while the fastening pin has a head whose diameter is such that the head can pass said stepped hole and a pin hooked in the said slit at the rear end of the said extension.

6. An automatic pencil claimed in claim 4 so constructed that said chalk-holding cylinder is extended from the said outer cylinder by pushing said push member, and the pressure exerted by the said jaws of the collect-chuck is released at the tapered portion of the said outer cylinder.

7. An automatic pencil as claimed in claim 6, including a piece of chalk is inserted into said chalk-holding chamber after pressing the push member forward, overcoming the pressure of the said pushout spring, and when the said pressing of the said push member is released, said chalk-holding cylinder is restored into the outer cylinder by the repulsive force of the spring enclosed in the said spring chamber, and said collectchuck jaws hold said piece of chalk tightly.

8. An automatic pencil claimed in claim 1 so constructed that a cap is attached to said outer cylinder to protect the chalk inside, and said cap has an elastic clip on it.

9. An automatic chalk pencil comprising in combination:

a. a chalk-holding cylinder which has a chalk-holding chamber enclosing a pushout spring therein to push out chalk, one end of which is provided with collect-chuck jaws, the other end with a slit stepped extension catch of smaller diameter than that of the chalk;holding cylinder; b. an outer cylinder with a tapered portion to engage with said chuck jaws at the inside thereof, a chalk-holding cylinder chamber, a diaphragm with an aperture to allow the sliding of the said chalk-holding cylinder and said extension and a pressed-spring chamber adjoining said diaphragm, said chalk-holding cylinder being inserted into the said outer cylinder, and in the pressed-spring chamber of the outer cylinder, a pressed-spring, disposed around the outer surface of said extension;

c. a push member with an end point engageable by said slit stepped catch of the said extension so that said pressedspring may be pressed directly by the end point of said push member; whereby said push member is thrust through said stepped catch into said slit of said extension so that said end point may be clutched therein and by pressing the push member the chalk is sent out automatically; and,

d. a cap with a clip attached on said outer cylinder, and so constructed that it may protect chalk and the whole assembly may be easily worn on the clothes. 

1. An automatic chalk pencil comprising in combination a chalkholding cylinder (5); an outer cylinder (19) enclosing said chalk-holding cylinder; a chalk-holding collect-chuck mechanism (11) at the front end of the said chalk-holding cylinder and said outer cylinder; pushout spring means (7) to push chalk outwardly in the chalking cylinder, and a push member (9) at the other end of the outer cylinder to squeeze or release the collect-chuck mechanism.
 2. An automatic pencil as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chalk-holding cylinder includes a chalk-holding chamber to receive chalk, said chamber being defined by a parallel-walled hollow cylinder connected, at the bottom end of the chalk-holding chamber, with one end of a stepped extension (8) whose diameter is different from that of said chalk-holding cylinder; said front end of said chalk-holding chamber having thereat a tapered collect-chuck mechanism, a pushout spring to push out the chalk in the rear part of said chalk-holding chamber, and, a stepped catch with a slit cut to make said catch bendable at the rear end of said extension.
 3. In an automatic pencil as claimed in claim 2 having a chalk-holding cylinder chamber to enclose said chalk-holding cylinder and a spring chamber enclosing the extension of the said chalk-holding cylinder, in addition thereto, both said chambers being separated by a diaphragm which has an aperture (16) to allow movement of the extension through said aperture, and, a tapered portion at the front end of the said chalk-holding chamber.
 4. An automatic pencil as claimed in claim 3 so constructed that chalk is received in the chalk-holding cylinder chamber of said outer chamber, and said extension part is received in said spring chamber having a pressed-spring disposed in said extension part in said chamber, and the rear end of said extension part is provided with a push member and a fastening pin, said chalk-holding cylinder being always drawn toward said diaphragm in the chalk-holding cylinder chamber of said outer cylinder, and is so constructed that the collect-chuck jaws at the tip of the said chalk-holding cylinder are subjected to the pressure of the tapered portion at the inside end of the said outer cylinder.
 5. An automatic pencil as claimed in claim 4, said push member being so constructed that its outer diameter is a little smaller than the inner diameter of the said spring chamber and its inner diameter is such that it is possible for the push member to be hooked onto the outer surface of the said extension frictionally, said push member having a stepped hole whose diameter is sufficiently large to pass said stepped catch of said extension, while the fastening pin has a head whose diameter is such that the head can pass said stepped hole and a pin hooked in the said slit at the rear end of the said extension.
 6. An automatic pencil claimed in claim 4 so constructed that said chalk-holding cylinder is extended from the said outer cylinder by pushing said push member, aNd the pressure exerted by the said jaws of the collect-chuck is released at the tapered portion of the said outer cylinder.
 7. An automatic pencil as claimed in claim 6, including a piece of chalk is inserted into said chalk-holding chamber after pressing the push member forward, overcoming the pressure of the said pushout spring, and when the said pressing of the said push member is released, said chalk-holding cylinder is restored into the outer cylinder by the repulsive force of the spring enclosed in the said spring chamber, and said collect-chuck jaws hold said piece of chalk tightly.
 8. An automatic pencil claimed in claim 1 so constructed that a cap is attached to said outer cylinder to protect the chalk inside, and said cap has an elastic clip on it.
 9. An automatic chalk pencil comprising in combination: a. a chalk-holding cylinder which has a chalk-holding chamber enclosing a pushout spring therein to push out chalk, one end of which is provided with collect-chuck jaws, the other end with a slit stepped extension catch of smaller diameter than that of the chalk-holding cylinder; b. an outer cylinder with a tapered portion to engage with said chuck jaws at the inside thereof, a chalk-holding cylinder chamber, a diaphragm with an aperture to allow the sliding of the said chalk-holding cylinder and said extension and a pressed-spring chamber adjoining said diaphragm, said chalk-holding cylinder being inserted into the said outer cylinder, and in the pressed-spring chamber of the outer cylinder, a pressed-spring, disposed around the outer surface of said extension; c. a push member with an end point engageable by said slit stepped catch of the said extension so that said pressed-spring may be pressed directly by the end point of said push member; whereby said push member is thrust through said stepped catch into said slit of said extension so that said end point may be clutched therein and by pressing the push member the chalk is sent out automatically; and, d. a cap with a clip attached on said outer cylinder, and so constructed that it may protect chalk and the whole assembly may be easily worn on the clothes. 